Eagle Nesting Report Saturna Island

Extracted text (beginning)

Summary 
of Bald 
EaglE 
NEStiNg 
rESultS
Saturna 
ISland, 
BrItISh 
ColumBIa 
2009
WiTS Local Area Report 2009:2       
T
he Bald Eagle is among 
the most charismatic and 
widely known species of 
wildlife in North America.  Bald 
Eagles occur in large numbers along 
the west coast of Canada and are 
symbolic of the natural world.  In 
the late 1990’s, supported by BC 
Hydro, administered by BC Nature, 
and in partnership with the Canadian 
Wildlife Service and the Ministry 
of Environment, the Wildlife Tree 
Stewardship Program (WiTS) was 
created as an on-line Atlas and data-
base of Bald Eagle nest information.
Through the WiTS program, vol-
unteer citizen scientists and local 
naturalist groups monitor nesting 
eagles and contribute their observa-
tions back to the program.  The pool 
of Bald Eagle nesting information 
is available to the public, to local 
government planners, and to consul-
tants in hopes that knowledge and 
information will help to protect Bald 
Eagle nesting sites.  The informa-
tion presented here is a summary of 
what we know about the locations 
and nesting success of Bald Eagle 
on Saturna Island, British Columbia.
We know of 25 Bald 
Eagle nest sites on 
Saturna Island

Summary Report of Bald Eagle Nesting Sites — Saturna Island
Page 2
T
he primary constraints 
to Bald Eagle nesting suc-
cess are food supply, health 
of the eagles, availability of nesting 
and perch trees, and disturbance by 
human activity.  Through the nest-
ing season, Bald Eagle egg and chick 
survival depends on a reliable source 
of food that meets the energy needs 
of the rapidly growing chicks, and the 
adult eagles as they both tend to their 
nests and fly between their nests and 
their food source.  Along the shores 
of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Is-
lands most Bald Eagle nest trees are 
located near the shore at sites with 
commanding views of the ocean, the 
source of their food supply.  Prevent-
ing the loss of nesting and perching 
trees is critical in assuring the long 
term viability of the eagle population.  
Development pressure for residential 
properties has led to the loss of many 
nest and perch trees.  In the past, 
the most common eagle nest trees 
were veteran Douglas fir, often with 
tops that were damaged by winds or 
lightning strikes.  As coastal forests 
are cleared for residential construc-
tion, lone veteran nest trees are at 
increased risk for wind-throw, are of-
ten considered as hazards and are cut 
down.   As eagles lose their preferred 
nest trees, they nest in smaller less 
suitable trees where nest failure due 
to collapsing tree limbs is common.
Disturbance
Bald Eagles are most susceptible 
to disturbance when human activity 
patterns near their nests are changed.  
In remote areas, the presence of a 
hiker, a forestry worker, a biologist, 
or even a boat landing at the shore 
a few hundred metres from a nest 
ConsTrainTs To Bald EaglE nEsTing suCCEss
Bald Eagles 
are most 
susceptible to 
disturbance 
when

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